The co-parenting app market changed fast in 2026. TalkingParents went paid, AppClose ended its free tier in January, and the remaining "free" options are mostly trials wearing long coats. This page is the honest, one-table version of the detailed comparisons we publish across the site — same research, no marketing fluff.
| App | 2026 Price | AI message help | Free tier | Solo mode | Court-ready records | Full comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🐦 Larkling | Free core · Premium £6.99/mo per family | ✅ AI Tone Coach (free) | ✅ Permanent | ✅ Yes | ✅ Exportable, tamper-evident | — |
| OurFamilyWizard | $200+/yr per family (Premium $300+) | ❌ No AI rewriting | ❌ Trial only | ❌ | ✅ Yes | Full comparison → |
| TalkingParents | Went paid 2026 · up to $32/mo per parent | ❌ Sentiment Scanner only | ❌ Ended | ❌ | ✅ Yes | Full comparison → |
| AppClose | $7.99–$8.99/mo per parent | ❌ | ❌ Ended Jan 2026 | ❌ | ✅ Yes | Full comparison → |
| 2houses | £99/yr per family | ❌ | ❌ Trial only | ❌ | ✅ Yes | Full comparison → |
| Civly | $79/yr per parent | ✅ AI rewriting | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Hashed records | Full comparison → |
| Cozi | Free with ads · paid tiers | ❌ | ✅ Basic | ❌ | ❌ Not court-focused | Full comparison → |
| Civil Communicator | Subscription, human-reviewed | ✅ Human review | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Yes | Full comparison → |
| Parenting Path | Free / paid tiers | ❌ | ✅ Basic | ❌ | ❌ | Full comparison → |
What the price column actually means
Per parent vs per family. OurFamilyWizard, TalkingParents and AppClose all charge per parent — a two-parent family pays double. Larkling and 2houses charge per family. Over a year, per-parent pricing turns a £100 decision into a £200+ one, which is exactly why so many co-parents land on this page in the first place.
Free tiers in 2026. AppClose's decade of free ended 1 January 2026 with no grandfathering. TalkingParents went paid during the year. What's left of "free" is either trial-gated or ad-supported — except Larkling's permanent free tier.
Which app should you choose?
If you're on a budget or your co-parent won't pay: Larkling. The free tier includes messaging, calendar, expenses, journal, and AI Tone Coach — and Solo Mode works even if the other parent never signs up.
If you need the most established court record: OurFamilyWizard remains the most cited in court orders, and if that familiarity matters to your solicitor, it's a legitimate reason to pay. Larkling's records are designed to be court-ready too — see the court records guide for the honest comparison.
If you want human-reviewed messaging: Civil Communicator is genuinely different — a human reviews hostile messages. Larkling's AI Tone Coach does the same job instantly and free.
If you mainly need a shared family calendar: Cozi is fine for a cooperative family. The moment you need records, expenses or conflict-proofing, it runs out of road.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — Larkling has a permanent free tier with no card and no trial clock. Most others ended their free tiers or gate them behind trials; see the table above.
Larkling is free, with court-ready exportable records on the free tier and tamper-evident PDF exports on Premium (£6.99/mo per family). See our cheapest court-approved apps UK guide.
Yes — the AI Tone Coach rewrites hostile messages into calm, child-focused language with one tap, included free. Civly charges $79/yr per parent for the same idea.
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